The Orion Township Board of Trustees has asked parks and recreation director Rock Blanchard to bring back an expanded plan for an amphitheater at Civic Center Park by the Sept. 19 board meeting.
Blanchard presented a request at the Aug. 15 meeting, asking the board to authorize the preparation of specifications and to seek bids for the construction of an amphitheater at the park on Joslyn Road.
The cost for this was not to exceed $100,000. Blanchard said that amount was included in the 2005 budget for the project.
‘This was to be used as a match for a state grant to construct an amphitheater estimated at $200,000,? he explained. ‘An amphitheater has been in this township’s parks and recreation plan since the 1980s.?
Blanchard said currently, parks and recreation hosts seven concerts a year at the park, with an average total of 2,300 people attending through the season.
Steven Auger, a Lake Orion architect, had reviewed the amphitheater designs, as well as citizens and performance groups.
‘The direction from the parks and recreation advisory committee is we continue to seek corporate sponsorship for this site,? said Blanchard, adding that the sponsorships would be used for things like better seating, lighting and an upgraded sound system from the amphitheater.
‘To add things in the future,? he said.
Clerk Jill Bastian called the concept ‘awesome,? but said she was concerned that by not looking at three different quotes, they would be going against township policy.
‘I’m just concerned about the fact we want to spend money, and usually when we do that type of thing we get three quotes,? she said.
Blanchard said he did not get three quotes for this project, and that Auger had already done a lot of work on it, donating some of that.
‘It would cost more to go out and get someone else,? he said. ?(Auger) has invested a lot of time.?
Treasurer Alice Young was worried about the timing.
‘I thought the survey was to find out what people wanted out of the parks and recreation department?? she asked, referring to a later board agenda item for the Aug. 15 meeting regarding approval of an RFP to have a company do a community survey for the department.
‘There was citizen input into this,? responded Blanchard. ‘It was put in the budget with the idea we’d proceed with this.?
He said the department applied for a state grant for the additional $100,000 for the project on several occasions, but he didn’t recommend applying again at this time.
‘It’s my opinion that they won’t fund a recreational program,? Blanchard said. ‘One of the review people said ‘That’s just parks and recreation trying to improve their facilities.??
So, Blanchard said the parks and recreation advisory committee had come up with a project for $100,000.
‘It would still involve getting some matching funds or in-kind services,? said Blanchard.
He said the project was important because it would ‘serve a different audience than sports.?
‘It does serve an older audience at those concerts,? he said. ‘There could also be children’s programs and theater.
‘We have a lot of nice facilities for the athletic leagues,? said Blanchard. ‘The parks and recreation committee thought maybe it’s time to do some things for other people in the township.?
George Sinnott, an Orion resident and member of the North Oakland Concert Band, said he was behind the amphitheater idea.
‘You could attract better groups with a better facility, and that would attract more people,? he said. ‘The money spent is insignificant compared to other sports.?
Tom Sanna, also an Orion resident, wondered why the board was not listening to the results of a survey that was done last year before residents voted not to pass the parks and recreation millage, Proposal P.
‘It was apparent then that the committee was out of step with what the residents want,? said Sanna. ‘Residents were not in favor of maintaining a facility.
‘So here we go again, building infrastructure residents said they didn’t want,? Sanna continued. ‘You go ahead, and I say you’re thumbing your nose at all the residents last November who said they didn’t want it.?
Trustee Matthew Gibb wondered what the cost would be for the amphitheater if they ‘did it right.?
‘I’d like to see that, to see if it’s a viable situation,? he said.
The board directed Blanchard to gather information concerning the cost for expanding the amphitheater project to include things other than just a bandshell.